Sept. 14, 2004

HILLSDALE, Mich. - WSU's volleyball squad (5-3, 0-0 GLIAC) lost its league opener at South Division rival Hillsdale College by the score of 3-0 (30-23, 30-24, 30-25) on Tuesday, September 14, at the Jesse Phillips Arena. With the loss, the Warriors fall to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while HC improves its record to 8-2, 1-0.

Game one was tied up in the early moments, but middle blocker Elisa Joris (Walled Lake, Mich.) had a pair of kills for a 10-8 WSU lead. But the Chargers pulled away in the late stages for the 30-23 win.

Sei Hee Hwang (Toronto, Ont.) started the second game with a service ace, but HC went on a five-point rally before WSU tied the game at five. Much like game one, the second was tight through the first part including a 12-12 tie as Kristi Pieper (Roseville, Mich.) had a crucial kill on a long rally from both teams. Once again, it was Hillsdale going on a run for the win.

WSU began the third game with three straight blocks by Toni Purgatori (Yale, Mich.), Joris and Jeana Wiehl (Portage, Mich.) and a 3-0 lead. Another big Joris kill from the right side, followed by a back-row kill from Pieper and a Sofi Berczely (Buenos Aires, Argentina) kill in the center of the net gave Wayne State a 7-2 advantage. Hillsdale came back to tie the game at 14 and went on for the 30-25 win.

Pieper had a team-high nine kills and Hwang led all players with 15 digs.

The Warriors will host a pair of divisional foes in Gannon and Mercyhurst this Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (4 p.m.).